As climate changes, more pinot noir vineyards cropping up in Hokkaido
Pinot noir vineyards are now dotting Hokkaido, better known for its ski slopes, as global warming raises spring-to-fall temperatures to a point suitable for cultivating the red grapes. But the grapes, used in expensive wine in Hokkaido, could see reduced acidity as climate change progresses ...
Russian authorities on Wednesday seized a Japanese fishing boat with six crew members aboard in waters off Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands, the Hokkaido government said the same day. A fishery cooperative based in Nemuro told the Hokkaido government that the boat was operating within 200 nautical ...
Of the issues non-Japanese had to deal with in the past year (and even the past decade), some were major news stories and some fell quietly into the cracks.
Heli-skiing in Japan: The joys of big-mountain powder
From December to March, Hokkaido Backcountry Club runs heli-skiing tours to Mount Shiribetsu near the Niseko and Rusutsu ski resorts. Clip in for the ride.
Japan's pressing regional affairs to unfold quietly in shadow of Olympics
This year, all attention will turn to the 2020 Olympics, with politicians, business leaders and the media talking about how to ensure its success, what it means for Japan domestically and internationally and how to avert a post-Olympic economic slump. Outside the seven prefectures in ...
Japan's local governments struggling with debt due to public investment and disasters
Debts incurred from past public investment and reconstruction work after disasters are placing heavy financial burdens on local governments.
Chinese exec in Japan casino scandal asked his head office for bribe money, sources say
A Chinese company executive who allegedly bribed lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto over a plan to open a casino resort in Japan had told his head office in Shenzhen, China, that he would "need funds for bribery," sources close to the matter said Monday. Sources also said ...
Office of arrested lawmaker Akimoto may have used consultancy cash to pay staff
Private political office of arrested lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto may have diverted consultancy money to pay the salaries of private secretaries.
Lack of snow in, around Sapporo worries tourism officials, ski resort owners
Concerns are growing for tourism in Sapporo due to a serious shortage of snow in Hokkaido this year. Some ski resorts have yet to open, while organizers of the annual Sapporo Snow Festival are struggling to gather enough snow. "I've never experienced a shortage of snow ...
Arrested lawmaker Akimoto's 2018 Hokkaido trip linked to Sapporo firm planning casino resort
A family trip to Hokkaido made in 2018 by ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto, who was arrested Wednesday over bribery allegations, was apparently prompted by a request from a Sapporo tourism company that planned to launch a project to build a casino ...
Japanese professors issue appeal for Chinese colleague missing in homeland
A group of Japanese researchers is pleading for the safe return of a prominent Chinese scholar at Hokkaido University of Education who they have not heard from since shortly after he left for China to attend a family funeral in June. Friends and colleagues have ...
LDP lawmaker Tsukasa Akimoto arrested for alleged receipt of bribe from Chinese gambling firm
Prosecutors also arrested three people related to 500.com Ltd. on suspicion of providing bribes to Akimoto, who was in charge of developing the government’s integrated resort project policy.
